Page 209 of Light Leech

“It’s everything here. All records of human knowledge as we know it. Even though I am a part of it, I still have some human limits. We have access to the world’s database and can do with it what we will. We could change the neuronet to show the truth of everything right now, but I think we need some groundwork before we do that. Sure, the Gongtide is on us already, but once we turn humanity’s view on reality, who knows what chaos will ensue. We have the tools, now it’s time to lay out the plan.”

“Pulse! Are we ready to head back now?”

“Petya—“

“You need to stay here?”

She shook her head. “I’ll be with you. I just…”

“You’re dead. They really killed you, didn’t they.”

“Yes.”

Silence hung between us.

I choked on a sob as I struggled to breathe, my back convulsing as the pain of bereavement struck after what had been false hope.

“I’m so sorry,“ I managed to say. It was weak, but enough for her to hear. Enough for it to hear. Zeg I didn’t know if it was her or a program.

“Oh, Petya, don’t act like it’s all your fault.”

Had she been here, I knew she would have cried with me. Ralia was always there for anyone who needed her emotionally. Sometimes she took the empathy too far, feeling the emotions more than the person themself.

This Ralia could only offer comforting words. It might be her same words and voice behind that digital face, but it wasn’t the same.

It never would be.

My pain stretched further as I spread my arms on the prism’s pane, my cheek pressed against it.

Human or not, she understood enough to be silent while I let out my emotions. What did she think about me mourning her before her own eyes.

I sniffed and wiped my nose after what felt like ten minutes of agonizing sorrow. A headache pounded in the front of my skull.

“Sorry,” I said.

“Don’t be.”

“So,.” I caught my breath and tried to collect myself again. “Should we get an and body for you back home?”

Her somber expression was quick to kill my brief smile. “I can’t leave.”

I bit my lit, letting the pain play a delicate game between drawing blood and helping me hold in another crying fit.

“But I’ll be in touch,” she said. “More than that, even. Talk to me whenever any of you want. I’m sure we’ll be working together non-stop once you get back. We have the Correction now and we can utilize it however we need. Revealing the truth of the world is just a tenant of the waves we are going to make.”

“But what about everyone else here? It’s a zegging city, Ral. Sure, we offed the council, but do you think that means everyone will just go along with what you say?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“I am the Correction. I am Dokkaebi.”

“Ra–”

“No, I’m not that thing alone. I took its place, you plug? Without the Light Leech fragments–especially the one that was inside Kim–to pilot this organization, they don’t have a direction. Dokkaebi was the Beacon. He’s gone and I’ve taken his place. I decide what this organization does. I can see their entire history and it has been nothing more than a master commanding his slaves who function like a collection of humans that make up the greatest computer known to humankind. Now, I’m not saying that it is going to go without any growth pains, but I will manage. I’m more than I ever was before.”

I didn’t say anything, but she knew that I disagreed.